The European Union will not lift sanctions on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his allies until the country improves its human rights record and moves ahead on a power-sharing plan, an EU official said Sunday.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe met with a delegation from the European Union over the weekend.

European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel de Gucht spoke to reporters at the conclusion of a two-day visit about Mugabe's calls for an end to the sanctions.

Under a power-sharing agreement last year aimed at ending months of turmoil and violence that followed the March 2008 presidential elections, Mugabe retained his office, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai became prime minister.

Called the Global Political Agreement, the accord spelled out a number of fundamental democratic reforms. But so far there has been no progress toward them, EU officials have said.

The EU delegation met with Mugabe and Tsvangirai separately on Saturday.

De Gucht also disputed Mugabe's characterization of the restrictive sanctions placed on Zimbabwe as economic sanctions.

The EU continues to send humanitarian aid to the impoverished country, de Gucht said.